NDA Early Years

Our three-tiered Early Childhood Development program for boys and girls starts with Pre-Kindergarten at 2 years 9 months and moves through two levels of Kindergarten until age 6. The hands-on, developmental program delivers a values-based education incorporating technology, environmental responsibility, cultural appreciation, specials including world languages, art, and music and provides access to our new mini makerspace exploration center.

NDA Lower School

Our co-educational Lower School program for grades 1-5 offers families a mission-driven, values-based education providing a nurturing environment of challenging academics, favorable student-to-teacher ratios, specialty classes that include art, music and world languages, and use of a newly upgraded science lab and brand new STEAM makerspace.

NDA Middle School

The Academy’s co-educational Middle School program for grades 6-8 provides challenging course work in language arts, science, math, and world languages and scheduling to meet individual needs based on learning readiness. The REACH program provides advanced work in math and English for those who qualify. The newly upgraded science lab and brand new STEAM Makerspace were specially designed to meet the needs of middle school students as they prepare for a future in the global economy.

NDA Upper School

The Academy of Notre Dame is the region's only all-girls high school with a rich history of empowering and educating young women since 1854. Our rigorous and supportive academic environment in small class settings provide real-life applications where young women are valued as individuals, challenged to achieve, encouraged to speak their minds, and empowered to lead. The outstanding STEAM- and humanities-focused academics have led our graduates to 100% college acceptance and more than $25 million in renewable merit scholarships since 2015.

Admissions

Thank you for exploring the possibilities that exist for you or your child at The Academy of Notre Dame. We invite you to click through these links to gather the information you are seeking about the Academy or to contact us at 978.649.7611, EXT. 327 or admissions@ndatyngsboro.org.

About Us Blog

As my first full school year here at the Academy comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude for this community of students, parents, faculty, staff, alumnae, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and board members who have welcomed me, inspired me and provided me with guidance and support. To each of you I offer a sincere thank you. You have made my transition into the world of NDA as smooth as possible.
I am happy to announce that as of this week, the Board of Directors has extended me a contract which I have signed. Even before the official offer was extended, my wife Debbie and I purchased a new home in Nashua. We are settling in now and making plans for the future.

In today’s society, a large focus for students is to be a “well rounded individual” when applying for college. When asked what “well-rounded” means, the majority of people would list someone with high academic achievement, numerous extracurricular activities (sports and clubs), and a commitment to community service. However, this list is very static and generic, unless there is a true passion behind it. Being passionate about something can take seed as a young child and be fostered throughout adolescence and adulthood, leading to a lifelong commitment and dedication to truly making a difference in the world.

The search for the right balance in curriculum is a constant endeavor in education. In the 21st century we have seen a constant increase in schools shaping their curriculum around the four disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Over the years, the focus on these disciplines and the practice of teaching them in an interdisciplinary and applied approach has become known by its acronym, STEM. There has been a great deal of discussion and debate regarding the pros and cons of STEM and the possible negative effects of focusing primarily on the sciences and pushing the arts to the background.

We hear about it, we see it, and we experience it as we work to raise the next generation. The “it” in our lives is the rising stress level. This growing phenomenon should be the focus of the team of administrators, teachers and parents working to prepare our children for a new and challenging world. As we grow concerned about the future, it is important to look to the old adage from an unidentified woman, “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.”

What feelings does the phrase “Annual Fund” elicit when you see or hear it? It seems most people would say it evokes negative feelings because of the expectation of having to dish out more of their hard earned cash. Advancement professionals, on the other hand, would likely respond that, in fact, the phrase should create feelings of hope and gratitude.

David Vitter wrote: Catholic schools prepare every student to meet the challenges of their future by developing their mind, yes, but also their body and their soul and spirit. Vitter’s statement gets to the very core of the value of Catholic education and why so many parents choose a Catholic school for their children. There are 10 characteristics that are traditionally woven into the educational philosophy of a Catholic School environment:

It is no secret that students who participate in athletics spend a great deal of time on and off the field/court preparing for competition. Time that many assert could be better spent doing homework, studying, or preparing for the next big test.

As we come to the close of another academic year and I prepare for my departure from the Academy, I find myself reflecting on the all that we have accomplished and all that we were challenged by since September.